Wolves News: Cheyney University Cuts Ribbon to New Science Center -Paving Way to Prepare More Students in STEM
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Posted By: Hija Chang on September 08, 2014 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania officially dedicated its state-of-the-art Science Center, the first new academic building constructed on its historic campus in 30 years, on September 3, 2014 at a 4 pm ceremony attended by scores of students, faculty, alumni, administrators and community leaders. University administrators and trustees helped cut the ribbon, along with PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Frank T. Brogan, and elected officials including Cheyney Alumnus Representative Thaddeus Kirkland ('91) and State Senator Vincent Hughes who is also a member of the University's Council of Trustees. “This facility will serve as a model for collaboration and creation of new knowledge that will support future scholarship and research endeavors,” said Cheyney University Acting President Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, who called this an “investment to help us prepare more students in the STEM disciplines that can compete for high demand careers in the field.” Chancellor Brogan, who oversees 13 other state schools in addition to Cheyney, pledged his support to continue to help the historic University thrive. The 40,000 square foot, $23 million building which just opened this month for classes, demonstrates Cheyney University’s commitment to address the underrepresentation of minorities and women in the science, technology and mathematics fields and professions. The towering structure houses chemistry, biology, physics and computer laboratories, seminar and lecture rooms, faculty offices, a planetarium, and an external greenhouse. Rep. Kirkland, so excited about the new building, took a moment to explain his pride. Cheyney University, he said, played a special part in his life and the lives of his mother, sister, four brothers and two cousins—all Cheyney graduates. “Make sure Cheyney’s light never ever dies,” he implored. Meantime, Senator Hughes told the crowd gathered how proud his late father, James Hughes, a long-time education advocate who fought hard for Cheyney University over the years, would be. "He would say, alright. We got this done. Tell the story. Be proud of what you've accomplished here but use this as a foundation for much more that we've got to get going--that we've got to accomplish." Hughes went on to encourage those in attendance to use the new science building to accomplish Cheyney's mission and build a bright future for the University and its students. Travonya Kenly, a senior biology major with a concentration in ecology and environmental biology, spoke about how life-changing the new building’s facilities will be to minorities and women seeking to pursue careers in science, technology and math. “Throughout my college career I have competed and earned research experiences at several top institutions such as the Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, MD, the number one institution of oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, CA, Duke University’s Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC, the National University of Singapore and Miami University in Oxford, OH. The labs that I worked in were state-of-the-art, but there was no shortage of confidence on my part because all of the staff here at Cheyney made sure that I was competent, disciplined and qualified to be competitive in a professional setting,” she said. Her hope now is that Cheyney students will stay and get excellent research experience and students from other institutions will choose to come to Cheyney for a semester for that same type of experience. “We have already collaborated with several important research universities and labs,” shared Dr. Ayodele Aina, Cheyney University’s Chairman of the Natural & Applied Sciences Department, including Worcester Institute of Technology, University of PA, University of Pittsburgh, Drexel University of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and AMP. “Colleagues,” he smiled, “our job begins. We have a lot of work to do!” The building, targeted for Silver LEED certification, utilizes energy-saving daylighting, a demonstration green roof, rain water/gray water recycling, a rain garden, highly efficient mechanical systems and the use of recycled and local materials to maximize effectiveness. In addition, professors will use the building’s design and systems as a teaching tool for students, while the building itself is designed to embody sustainability. The Center’s Green features: • Light-sensored lobby lighting adjusts the electrical lighting based on the natural sunlight coming into the space. • Variable speed fume hoods in laboratories allow for reduced flow, saving energy from the fan and minimizing heating and cooling when not in use. • Contractors recycled 50% of project waste during construction to minimize landfill waste. • Certified wood from properly managed forests rather than wood from old growth forests was used in the construction. • Rapidly renewable materials including linoleum floor tile and bamboo wainscoting were used extensively. • Low-emitting materials, paints and coatings were used to minimize the chance of interior air contamination for building occupants. • Cisterns will collect some of the roof rainwater. This water will be used to flush the low-flow toilet fixtures in the building. • An energy efficient mechanical system was installed and will use heat recovery to minimize the use of fossil fuels. The project has a commissioning agent that will ensure that the efficient mechanical systems are running as designed. • Significant insulation exceeding code requirements minimizes heat loss and gain through the walls. • Additionally, double glazing with a low-e coating will help minimize heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer. Windows on the south elevation have sun shades on the exterior to reduce heat gain in the summer and help reflect light further into the office spaces. CuetoKearney design, LLC of Swarthmore, PA was the architectural firm that designed the Science Center. The newest building on campus prior to this was a suite-style residence hall which opened exactly one year ago on the University’s historic quadrangle. Architects from CuetoKearney design, LLC of Swarthmore, PA, who designed the impressive building, were also on hand for the big event. The newest building on campus prior to this was a suite-style residence hall which opened exactly one year ago on the University’s historic quadrangle. Source: http://www.cheyney.edu/news/Cheyney-Univer... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Hija Chang
Management, See Moss Interactive Bellarmine University class of 2021 Member Since January 2011 |
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